Link Centre Dictionary

clasp

UK/klɑːsp/ US/klæsp/ uncommon obsolete rare
verb (4) noun (2)

verb

1.

hold firmly and tightly

Antonyms
2.

fasten with or as if with a brooch

Synonyms
3.

fasten with a buckle or buckles

Synonyms
Antonyms
4.

grasp firmly

  • “The child clasped my hands”
Antonyms

noun

1.

a fastener (as a buckle or hook) that is used to hold two things together

2.

the act of grasping

  • “he released his clasp on my arm”
  • “he has a strong grip for an old man”
  • “she kept a firm hold on the railing”
Synonyms

Origin

Noun dated ca. 1300 and verb dated ca. 1400; from Middle English claspe (“metal catch or hook used to hold things together”), possible metathesis of clapse, which comes from or related to Old English clyppan (“clasp”) (also see clip (verb)). Related to English enclasp (“embrace, hold tightly in one's arms”). Compare hasp, of very similar meaning but older known provenance.

Phrases

  • clasp brake
  • clasp lock
  • clasp locker
  • tie clasp

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.